Offsite Heating Distribution Systems
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In eastern Europe and Russia,
nuclear plants divert some of the steam that would normally go to
drive the turbine-generator and use nonradioactive steam or hot
water for local city/town heating. In all countries, the people
who work at the plant live close to the plant. Often the towns
are about 5 miles (8km) from the plant. The photo below shows an
insulated pipe which extends for 16 miles (23km) to the local
town. The insulated pipe is used to minimize heat losses.
In the town, a pumping station is used to return the cold water back to the plant. A similar application in the United States is the steam line in St. Paul, Minnesota that supplies steam from a local coal fuel power plant to a paper plant 5 miles away. |
| Photo courtesy Bohunice NPS |
Copyright © 1996-2004. Joseph Gonyeau, P.E.. The Virtual Nuclear Tourist. All rights reserved. Revised: March 15, 2001.
